A renowned Nigerian Catholic priest, Rev Fr Chinenye Oluoma, finds himself embroiled in a controversial clash with a Facebook user, identified as Revd Harrison Ayintete, concerning his message of well wishes to Muslims during the Eid El Kabir celebration.
Accusing Ayintete of hiding his bigotry and intolerance towards the Muslim faith behind disguised questions, Oluoma remains resolute in defending the Catholic Church’s positive and proactive interreligious stance.
In a compelling response, the soft-spoken cleric emphasizes that the Catholic Church extends a hand of solidarity and love to people of other faiths.
Oluoma took to Facebook on Wednesday to extend his “Eid Mubarak” greetings to his Muslim friends in light of the Eid El Kabir festivities.
However, Revd Harrison Ayintete chimed in with a comment, questioning how Oluoma plans to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with Muslims after his warm wishes.
“I mean, do you endorse their faith while affirming your own? Are all faiths the same, or does affirming their faith pave the way for them to acknowledge your faith?” Ayintete inquired.
Oluoma swiftly responded, exposing what he perceives to be the concealed intolerance and bigotry within Ayintete’s questions.
The outspoken priest reinforces the Catholic Church’s stance on fostering positive interreligious relations, expressing that while they may not endorse or share the same beliefs, there are aspects of other faiths that resonate with Catholic teachings.
“We believe there are areas of common ground and opportunities for cooperation. The Catholic Church respects the beliefs of others. By wishing them well on their religious feasts, we demonstrate respect and love,” Oluoma firmly stated.
Moreover, he reveals that he has non-Christian listeners who attend his sermons, further emphasizing the importance of engaging in comparative religious studies.
“Above all, our affiliation with the Christian faith doesn’t negate our ability to respect the faith of others,” Oluoma concluded.
